I previously wrote about San Diego a bunch of times here. Being from Nelson Mandela Bay in South Africa (the east coast), I’m used to the beach. By the way, if you’re new to my blog, I love to travel and write + take pictures of special moments along my travels. For more on African moments, I highly suggest: Chasing Elephants in Addo Elephant Park. Now I live in Texas + there isn’t a beach for miles. That’s why when I get a chance to visit the coast, it leaves me very refreshed indeed. I recently enjoyed the gorgeous city of San Diego once again, staying at La Valencia Hotel (where this view above awaited me!).

When I went this time, I enjoyed a production of “Hamilton” at The Civic Theatre, which I believe is touring in Atlanta right now (10/10 by the way). I’m always so thrilled to be back in a place which offers salty ocean air + tropical horizons. La Valencia was a perfect home away from home, with personal touches such as macaroons in the bedroom awaiting us. I love macaroons; more on macaroon moments in Washington here.

I really enjoyed walking along Scripps Beach in La Jolla on a sunny day + checking out the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Of course, the Birch Aquarium at Scripps is a must-see too. If you’re interested in oceanography or marine studies, you would appreciate the institute website or these articles I found:

The Scripps Fleet: One of the world’s largest academic research fleets
Pier Cam
A calender of upcoming events

For More Magic Moments you can find on this blog, check this out.

Moody La Valencia Hotel at night! A very warm breeze + tropical vegetation lends itself to a rather poetic setting

La Valencia is known for its spacious coastal villas + suites, Mediterranean-inspired cuisine, personable service, Pacific views + old-world luxury

La Valencia Hotel exudes Hollywood Glamour on the California Rivera – a hospitality classic since 1926.

Beautiful Macaroons the hotel arranged in the room!

Robert Paine Scripps Forum in San Diego – one of many buildings as part of the Scripps Institute of Oceanography

George H. Scripps Lab Historical Landmark

1 (2) — Overlooking Scripps Beach on a sunny day!

2 (1) — Ellen Browning Scripps Memorial Pier or simply “Scripps Pier” was built the year I was born, 1988!

Scripps Pier

Here is some history….

The original Scripps Pier, built in 1915-1916, was a 1,000-foot-long facility for acquiring clean seawater for the campus laboratories + the public aquarium.

As one of the world’s biggest research piers, it is used for boat launching + a variety of experiments. Data on ocean conditions + plankton taken from the pier since 1916 provide an unparalleled source of information on changes in the coastal Pacific Ocean.

More at: https://scripps.ucsd.edu/resources-and-facilities/ellen-browning-scripps-memorial-pier